By Jack Phillips
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that the man accused of killing at least four people and injuring eight more at a church in Michigan hated Mormons.
“From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, and they are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note, all of those questions have yet to be answered, but certainly will be answered by the FBI,” she told Fox News in an interview on Sept. 29.
Leavitt said that search warrants are being executed at the home of the suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford, to “get to the bottom of why he would commit such an act of evil.”
Sanford’s family is cooperating with the FBI, Leavitt also said. She did not provide more details about the suspect, who was killed by police during the incident.
Sanford, 40, allegedly drove a truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Grand Blanc before opening fire and setting the structure on fire during a Sunday service, officials said. The attacker allegedly used gasoline to start the fire and also had explosive devices, but it wasn’t clear whether he used them, said James Dier of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Investigators were searching Sanford’s residence. Authorities did not say what they found or provide any additional details, including whether he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.
It was the latest of many shooting attacks on houses of worship in the U.S. over the past 20 years, including one in August that killed two children during Mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis.
In a post on Sunday, President Donald Trump praised the FBI for its response to the Michigan shooting.
“This epidemic of violence in our country must end immediately,” Trump said.
He also said the shooting and arson on Sunday was “yet another targeted attack on Christians” and called for prayers.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in a statement, said that it “is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected.”
“Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection,” the statement said. “We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement on Sunday that her heart was breaking for the community.
“Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable,” she said.
The FBI said on X that anyone with information about the attack in Gland Blanc should contact the bureau.
The shooting occurred the morning after Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of the Utah-based LDS faith, died at 101. The next president is expected to be Dallin H. Oaks, per church protocol.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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